The sound of saxophones and trumpets filled the air as jazz bands from Westview Middle School, Lyons Middle Senior School, and Silver Creek High School performed in a concert at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons on Monday night.
Westview kicked off the night with a toe-tapping performance that set the stage for an evening of musical excellence. Each school performed a set of four to five songs, including pieces by jazz greats such as Count Basie and Van Morrison. As the evening drew to a close, students from all three schools gathered on stage for a final group number that earned them a standing ovation from the packed house.
“Our students had a great time performing in such a beautiful venue, and felt it was a strong performance,” shared Silver Creek Band Director William Legg. “The crowd enjoyed their music which always makes it fun for the performers. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to play with the amazing bands from Westview and Lyons.”
The tradition of hosting concerts at Planet Bluegrass began in 2021 when Lyons Band Director Kerri Gregg was in search of an outdoor venue that would allow for social distancing. Planet Bluegrass was the perfect choice, not only because of its spacious outdoor space that could accommodate a large crowd but also because of a long-standing relationship with the venue. Lyons band students have volunteered at festivals there since 2002 and the Operations Director is a Lyons graduate and former band volunteer who is familiar with their program.
In the concert’s inaugural year, Gregg extended an invitation to Westview to participate. Carrie Borja, Westview Band Director, jumped at the opportunity for her students to perform. “This year, recognizing the stunning location of the concert at Planet Bluegrass, we decided to include one more band and were delighted to have Silver Creek join us,” said Gregg. Phoebe Moellenberg, Lyons Junior, was excited that other bands were invited to perform stating, “We rarely get to watch other middle and high school jazz bands in our hometown, and it was really special to see the two bands playing at Planet Bluegrass.”
Westview students were excited they had an opportunity to play in a venue outside of their school. “It is a positive experience for the middle school students to get to play in a performance venue because it allows them to feel like they are gigging professionally,” shared Borja. “It is a more accurate representation of what most professional jazz performances are like. It was also a great learning experience, as they got to hear more advanced jazz musicians to learn from too.”
Listening to the high school bands provided Westview seventh grader Damian Fuentez a glimpse into his future as a high school tenor sax player. “It was really inspirational to listen to the older students’ technique and improvisation skills knowing I’ll be able to grow to that level one day.” Silver Creek senior Louise Larsen said her favorite part of the Lyons jazz performance was being able to collaborate with many other students from across the district. “We often collaborate with Longmont or Niwot but to be able to collaborate with Lyons was new and fun for everybody involved.”
Following the event, Gregg praised the band directors in St. Vrain Valley Schools, stating, “They are among the most collegial and supportive band directors of any district I’ve ever known. This is just one example of the many events that our music teachers share with each other. New ideas for collaborations are popping up all the time, and those offerings shift and adapt as our programs and goals change. This is but one instance of the numerous amazing opportunities that directors in St. Vrain Valley provide to our young musicians as part of their musical education.”